The Tunbridge World's Fair

Bright colored ribbons await award ceremonies.The Tunbridge
Fair has been operating since 1867 and at this location since
1875. It is a real country fair (although billed as a World's
Fair) with horse racing, tractor pulling, animal and
vegetable judging, but it also has a miniature village with
volunteers playing the parts of the villagers from long ago,
sort of like Williamsburg or Sturbridge village.

Lots of young girls wait their turn to show off their horses
in the ring

Families are assigned stalls for their horses and some look like
second homes - see the photo on the right

This street had many family stalls, along with the horses
and families

This beautifully groomed horse has a league of admirers

A longer view over one of the judging areas

Volunteers, almost all in period costumes (this man was one
of the few who weren't) demonstrate what everyday life was
like in Tunbridge 100 years ago or more.  This is the printer's
office. I unfortunately didn't get any pictures of the many
demonstrations of cutting and sawing lumber for building
purposes, shown in many ways.

Farm machinery and transports line a long barn. Here is a
bicycle driven saw and behind it a one horse sleigh

I loved this Surrey with the Fringe on the Top (but no
isenglass windows you could roll right down).

This peddler's wagon had a colorful history as the peddler was
a farmer who lost both hands in a farm accident and worked
as a peddler the rest of his life.

This young boy works hard pedaling to run a rope making
machine,

Contra Dancing in Period Costume

We felt like youngsters in this group!

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One large barn comprised a miniature village with this "home"
cooking lunch for the period volunteers around the fair.

This mother and daughter were making pounded cheese and
butter on crackers as a snack for everyone.

A busy weaver at her loom

This couple ran the general store, most popular item -
penny candy!

Music was provided as well.

The hat shop - I really loved wearing hats.

Before you can weave, the wool must be spun and died.

There was a functioning school - an actual one moved to the
site.

The antique tractor pull, which ran all day
There were a LOT of tractors!

The produce competitions had lots of entries - here are just
some of the pumpkin ones.

The cows were beautiful

And the cow barns immaculate

Aren't these patterns lovely. The black and white is separated
by a beautiful dove gray.

I just loved this young boy eating his pizza with his cow

A close up

Such cuddly lovely sheep

There was an obstacle course for the pigs. For a treat
this sow brought her piglets - a huge crowd favorite.

And if you haven't had enough tractors there were tons of
new ones on show and other farm machinery. There were
lots of rides as well, although Scott and I skipped that section

Every year I look forward to my once a year
fried dough covered with maple cream - Yum! We were
pleasantly surprised at the wide choice of food with some
much better and healthier options than usual. This of
course wasn't one of them!

Scott and I on the tractor ride back to our car after our
wonderful day at the Fair

Summer Doings - Odds and Ends

We had a terrific day at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.
That's the Chihuly Glass Tree in the new Atrium where we
also had lunch.

While visiting our new tenants in Quincy we stopped at
the Squatum Yacht Club where Heather spent most of her
summers.  Some of her family still belong here and that's
her father James' painting over the bar.

Scott attended a three day Progressive Change Campaign
Committee Field Organizing Class held in Portland, ME.

A view of the Portland, ME harbor front with a full moon

Both of us took a week long class at the Sculpting Studio
in West Rutland in Cold Casting. This shows our first
project, a two dimensional tile getting ready for the 2nd
plaster pouring. We're making a mold that will allow us
to pour mulitple copies.

Our teacher Elliot Katz and one of our fellow students

Grandson Tommy works through a huge Ben & Jerry's
ice cream cone. Unfortunately the memory card in my
camera failed and I lost all my photos of Zoe, Nick and
Tommy's visit, except this one which was on Scott's cell
phone. They came for a wonderful week while my sister
Paula was there as well.

The entry way to my Art Show at the Chaffee Center for
the Arts in Rutland, VT showing acrylics Woman in Red
 and Dancing in the Streets. I had 26 paintings in two rooms
for the month of August. I was part of a group show with
artist friends. The opening was a huge success with over
150 attendees. It was a huge job getting enough work
completed and framed for the exhibit but well worth it!

Caribbean Princess, Not Osh Kosh and Animal Buddies -
all in acrylics.

Oils, Waiting for the Bus and Tea Time on the Road, were
from my visit to Afganistan in 1968.

Under the Green Umbrella, also oil, hung in the
MFA as part of a student exhibit when I was
studying there.

Sculptors and friends from the Carving Studio came for the
show

Brent, Wilma, LaVerne, Wandi and Joseph came for a visit
in August. Here Brent and I pose on the AT. We enjoyed
some great hikes with Scott.

Joseph, LaVerne and Wandi try the roller coaster at
Okemo - several times.

Wilma and Brent with Shrewsbury friends Chryl and Gerry
with Scott at Elfin Pond for the Rotary Lobster Fest

This photo was on the front page of the Rutland Herald
and was taken at our Fifth Anniversary Party for Pierce's
Store on August 31st. It was a huge success with over a
hundred people attending. As you can see I worked the
grill.

My fruit tarte, made for a dinner I catered for 8 - donated
at a silent auction for Spring Lake Ranch's First Annual
Paddle Battle. Scott and I were part of the planning
Committee.